newsmakers

newsmakers

Police probe ex-CBC host in sex-assault case

TORONTO

Police have begun an investigation of a prominent former Canadian Broadcast Corp. radio host on sexual-assault charges after three women filed complaints against him.

Toronto police sex- crimes Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins told a news conference Saturday that her unit “has now commenced an active investigation” into the allegations of assault and sexual assault against former CBC star radio host Jian Ghomeshi. The allegations by the three women and several others by unidentified women in media reports rocked the Canadian public broadcaster, a vaunted Canadian institution.

CBC fired Ghomeshi last weekend. On Friday, CBC said his firing was prompted by the emergence of “graphic” evidence that he had caused physical injury to a person.

Ghomeshi defended his actions in a 1,500-word statement on Facebook last weekend, saying he had consensual “rough sex” with women and is the victim of a disgruntled ex-girlfriend. After the Toronto Star reported several more allegations days later, Ghomeshi posted that he would confront the allegations “directly” but wouldn’t discuss them with the media.

Beaven-Desjardins urged other women Saturday to come forward and said the police want anyone with evidence such as video or photographs to contact them.

Beaven-Desjardins said that after she read that nine victims had contacted various media sources to report incidents of assault and sexual assault involving Ghomeshi, she assigned investigators to contact the media outlets and encourage the alleged victims to contact police.

Associated Press